Comments on: Blizzard Local Service Now Open to All Custom Promotion Clients http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/ Hospitality Industry Internet Markting Blog from Blizzard Internet Marketing Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:36:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Joe Rabhan http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-10208 Joe Rabhan Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:49:25 +0000 http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-10208 Of course, the New Orleans market is a tough sell right now, but we feel the investment in Blizzard Local will prove to have been worth the effort as the area makes its recovery. The Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast is already seeing inquiry movement in a positive direction, especially now in August 2006, one year post Katrina. While previous months' sales have been way below normal, sales for this month are almost equal to last year before the storm and that's a very hopeful trend. We can attribute some of this to folks that found us because they wanted a specific location, such as near the Universities for Freshman check-in. We attribute some of this revenue to the local search application. Blizzard Local is incremental revenue opportunity, but incremental is great when you are counting on every opportunity dollar. We are pleased that we have incorporated Blizzard Local into our overall marketing plan and we are expecting continued excellent results. www.avenueinnbb.com Of course, the New Orleans market is a tough sell right now, but we feel the investment in Blizzard Local will prove to have been worth the effort as the area makes its recovery. The Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast is already seeing inquiry movement in a positive direction, especially now in August 2006, one year post Katrina. While previous months’ sales have been way below normal, sales for this month are almost equal to last year before the storm and that’s a very hopeful trend. We can attribute some of this to folks that found us because they wanted a specific location, such as near the Universities for Freshman check-in. We attribute some of this revenue to the local search application. Blizzard Local is incremental revenue opportunity, but incremental is great when you are counting on every opportunity dollar. We are pleased that we have incorporated Blizzard Local into our overall marketing plan and we are expecting continued excellent results. http://www.avenueinnbb.com

]]> By: Russ Cabe http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-9557 Russ Cabe Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:08:49 +0000 http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-9557 Good Question Bill, Just because they are booking in advance doesn't mean your guests aren't using local search. Because in many instances, where people make local search inquiries they are also able to read reviews of a property, many people use local search to get more of a 100% review of a property. They use it not just to find its location, but also what is near the property and what previous guests have to say about the property. We also don't want to forget that local search is largely feeding mobile search and while the large majority of guests to your property are prebooked, there is no better potential guest to reach than the one that is in your town right now looking for a place today. It is my honest opinion that everyone with a physical address would benefit from Blizzard Local. Some may see more than others and certainly those in population centers will probably benefit more, but you would get far more than your money's worth out of the program. Good Question Bill,
Just because they are booking in advance doesn’t mean your guests aren’t using local search. Because in many instances, where people make local search inquiries they are also able to read reviews of a property, many people use local search to get more of a 100% review of a property. They use it not just to find its location, but also what is near the property and what previous guests have to say about the property. We also don’t want to forget that local search is largely feeding mobile search and while the large majority of guests to your property are prebooked, there is no better potential guest to reach than the one that is in your town right now looking for a place today. It is my honest opinion that everyone with a physical address would benefit from Blizzard Local. Some may see more than others and certainly those in population centers will probably benefit more, but you would get far more than your money’s worth out of the program.

]]> By: Bill Strickland http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-8356 Bill Strickland Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:52:30 +0000 http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-8356 I find it hard to believe that local search will benefit BandBs such as mine. 95% of my reservations are booked in advance via the web. Any comments? Bill Strickland Innkeeper, Wyatt House Country Inn North Conway,NH I find it hard to believe that local search will benefit BandBs such as mine.
95% of my reservations are booked in advance via the web.
Any comments?
Bill Strickland
Innkeeper,
Wyatt House Country Inn
North Conway,NH

]]> By: Mindi Cabe - Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc. http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-7825 Mindi Cabe - Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc. Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:22:19 +0000 http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/blizzard-local-service-now-open-to-all-custom-promotion-clients/2006/07/12/#comment-7825 Great article! After reading about the success that Avenue Inn experienced with Blizzard Local, I checked the stats of another initial test case for this service. Turns out this client has received over $6000 in revenue from local resources since signing on with Blizzard Local in early May. Revenue prior to that date from local resources was less than $1,000. It's too early to tell whether this type of ROI is the standard with Blizzard Local, however because of the successes of these test cases I am recommending to all of my clients to get in to the program as soon as their budget allows. There is no doubt in my mind that local search is the next big wave in search marketing and that the earlier you get onboard, the better chance you stand of taking advantage of this burgeoning market. Great article! After reading about the success that Avenue Inn experienced with Blizzard Local, I checked the stats of another initial test case for this service. Turns out this client has received over $6000 in revenue from local resources since signing on with Blizzard Local in early May. Revenue prior to that date from local resources was less than $1,000.

It’s too early to tell whether this type of ROI is the standard with Blizzard Local, however because of the successes of these test cases I am recommending to all of my clients to get in to the program as soon as their budget allows. There is no doubt in my mind that local search is the next big wave in search marketing and that the earlier you get onboard, the better chance you stand of taking advantage of this burgeoning market.

]]>